Voluntary compliance, enforcement key to safety

COLLINSVILLE — Interim District 11 Commander, Lt. Timothy Tyler is reminding motorists to make safety their number one priority while driving during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest periods for motorists in Illinois. Although the Illinois State Police (ISP) will be out patrolling Illinois roadways, it will take a combined effort to ensure a safe holiday weekend.

The ISP encourages motorists to avoid the fatal four. Speeding, driving under the influence, distracted driving and failing to wear your seatbelt, are the four most common causes of fatal traffic crashes.

A driver traveling at a faster speed will cover more ground and have less time to react to a road hazard. Speed is also a factor into the severity of traffic crashes. The ISP will be monitoring speed on Illinois roadways so be sure to watch your speed this holiday weekend.

Alcohol is often present during Labor Day weekend celebrations and it is also a factor in one-third of fatal traffic crashes. The ISP encourages those who will be traveling this holiday weekend to please designate a sober driver.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign began on Aug. 22 and concludes on Sept. 5. During the campaign, ISP officers across the state will show zero tolerance for impaired driving and seat belt law violators. Seat belt use remains the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in a crash. Regardless if you’re traveling across town or across the state, be sure to buckle up.

Driving distracted takes your eyes off the road. Looking at your phone for five seconds while traveling at interstate speeds is like driving blindfolded the length of almost two football fields. The ISP will be on the lookout for those driving distracted this holiday weekend. Keep your eyes on the road, not your phone.

“Labor day weekend is traditionally the end of the summer travel season. Traffic is usually heavy during this holiday weekend, causing some drivers to speed in an effort to reach their destinations quicker,” Tyler stated in a news release. “We will have additional troopers visible on the interstates and state routes in an effort to reduce the number of motorists speeding, as well as the number of traffic crashes in the Metro East.”